Edge Davao Volume 13 Issue 192 | Tuesday, November 24, 2020

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Placing 35 barangays in Davao City under granular lockdown remains to be seen: Sara STORY ON PAGE 2

A backhoe is used in a land reclamation works for the Times Beach section of the Davao Coastal Road project.

On November 23, 2009, the heavy equipment became a symbol of the worst election-related violence in the country and the deadliest single attack against media workers in the world where 58 persons including 32 media workers were killed. Edge Davao

2 NEWS EDGEDAVAO

VOL.13 ISSUE 192 • TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2020

Success of antigen pilot test seen to boost PH tourism amid Covid-19

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WAIT AND SEE A pedetrian strolls along a very quiet R. Magsaysay Avenue during Davao City’s first Sunday under General Community Quarantine (GCQ). Edge Davao

Placing 35 barangays in Davao City under granular lockdown remains to be seen: Sara

By MAYA M. PADILLO

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ayor Sara said there are no discussions yet placing the 35 barangays in Davao City under granular lockdown but the possibility is there once the Coordinated Operations to Defeat the Epidemic (CODE) teams will be deployed in Davao City to assist in the Covid-19 response activities.

These barangays, which contribute 80 percent to the total cases of Covid-19 in Davao City, include Buhangin Poblacion, Barangay 19-B, Talomo Poblacion, Agdao, Bucana, Toril, Matina Crossing, Ma-a, Matina Aplaya, Cabantian, Catalunan Grande, Sasa, Panacan, Barangay 21, Daliao, Calinan, Brgy. 5-A, Bago Aplaya, Brgy, 27-C, Centro, Tugbok,

Poblacion, Leon Garcia, Brgy. 32-D, Brgy. 9-A, Baliok, Brgy. 20-B, Tibungco, Bunawan, Lizada, Tigatto, Brgy, 28-C, Brgy, 7-A, and Indangan; and barangays with clustering of cases that include Brgy. 27-C, Brgy. Rafael Castillo, Brgy. 31-D, Brgy.

Bunawan, Brgy. Paciano bangoy and Brgy 32-B. “But (there can be) a discussion sa pagsulod sa

House to seek P5-B increase in calamity funds under ‘21 budget

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he House of Representatives will push for an increase of at least ₱5 billion in calamity funds under the 2021 budget to aid in the recovery and rehabilitation of typhoon-struck areas, its leadership said Sunday.

In a statement, Speaker Lord Allan Velasco said the House will propose the allocation hike during the bicameral conference on the proposed ₱4.506-trillion national budget which will take place once the Senate approves its own version of the spending bill.

Velasco noted that the budget passage at the lower chamber preceded the onslaught of typhoons Quinta, Rolly, and Ulysses which left dozens of fatalities and billions worth of damage.

“Given the tremen-

dous damage caused by these successive strong typhoons, it is imperative that we augment the calamity fund in next year’s spending plan. We have to help our people rebuild their lives and their communities,” Velasco said.

The calamity fund under the proposed 2021 budget amounts to ₱20 billion. Of the number, ₱5 billion would be allocated for the reconstruction of wartorn Marawi City, while ₱6.25 billion would augment the quick response funds of some government agencies, Velasco said.

“That’s a total of ₱11.25 billion that is specifically appropriated, leaving a balance of ₱8.75 billion President Duterte could use to help victims of calamities and other disasters. That

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CODE Team but kung naa na decision na ingon ana I’m sure the CODE Team will make the proper announcements at correct time,” she said.

CIDE teams will be deployed in Davao City to assist in the Covid-19 response.

Mayor Sara also said she is not expecting for these areas to be placed under granular lockdown as there are no discussions about its implementation.

She said it is best to wait for the decision of the city government of Davao Task Force Covid-19.

“It may be a different direction sa CODE Teams, so we will wait sa CODE Team nga kung mag-decide sila nga mag-ECQ ug mag

barangay lockdown or mag zone lockdowns sa kanang mga identified 35 barangays,” she said.

It can be recalled that National Task Force (NTF) Against COVID-19 chief implementer Carlito Galvez has recommended for the implementation of a granular lockdown in high risk areas in Davao City.

The granular lockdown will be complemented with syndromic surveillance, which includes finding Covid-19 cases among the close contacts of infected persons.

Davao City was placed under general community quarantine (GCQ) until November 30, 2020 due to the surge of Covid-19 cases in the city.

he government is banking on the success of antigen pilot testing to fully boost the country’s local tourism badly hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, Malacañang said Monday.

Currently on pilot run in Baguio City, antigen testing is seen as a cheaper and faster alternative to the RTPCR testing, which is among the requirements for anyone visiting travel destinations that have been opened to the public.

“Pag nadeklara na successful itong antigen testing ay mapapabilis po talaga ang ating turismo kasi yung antigen po mabilis at mas mura,” said presidential spokesperson Harry Roque in an interview on Unang Balita.

Roque was reacting to observations that few people seem to be taking advantage of the re-opening of several tourist spots -- among them Baguio City and Boracay Island -- after months of closure due to the complicated requirements set by authorities.

Tourism Secretary Ber-

nadette Romulo-Puyat had earlier expressed preference to antigen test since its results will come out only after a few minutes, faster than the results from RTPCR testing.

“Sana nga po sa lalong mabilis na panahon ay mapabilis yung pilot testing [ng antigen test] nang sa gayon po lahat ng lugar sa Pilipinas ay puwedeng gumamit ng antigen,” Roque said.

Meanwhile, in the same interview, Roque said situation in Baguio City remains “under control” despite the reported increase in the number of COVID-19 cases there.

“Under control naman po [ang sitwasyon sa Baguio City] at magaling ang contact tracing diyan sa Baguio at sapat ang critical care capacity sa ngayon,” he said.

Roque said high COVID-19 cases in Benguet may have contributed to the numbers in Baguio City.

Baguio City is under Mayor Benjamin Magalong, the country’s “contact tracing czar.”

PRRD will not run for VP as Sara's running mate in 2022

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resident Rodrigo Duterte is unlikely to run for vice president in 2022 alongside his daughter should the latter seek to replace him, Malacañang said Monday, disagreeing with a statement from another aide.

Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo has repeatedly floated a "Duterte-Duterte" tandem in 2022 where the President's daughter Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio would supposedly run for president with her father as running mate.

"Ang pagkakaalam ko po eh, atat na atat na si Presidenteng matapos ang kaniyang termino at gusto na niyang umuwi dito sa Davao," Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque told reporters, referring to Duterte's hometown.

(What I know is that

the President is already eager to finish his term and he wants to come home here in Davao.)

"Iyong Duterte-Duterte tandem po na sinasabi ni Secretary Panelo, iyan po ay kaniyang personal na opinyon," he added.

(The Duterte-Duterte tandem that Secretary Panelo is saying is his personal opinion.)

Duterte, 75, is not eligible for re-election.

He has repeatedly praised his daughter's political influence in separate events, citing her role in the ouster of Davao del Norte 1st Dist. Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez as House Speaker hours before his third State of the Nation Address in 2018.

She had also endorsed the Speakership of Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco, who ousted Tagu-

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A fisherman’s family spends Sunday morning casting nets in Lagonglong, Misamis Oriental to provide food on their table. Photo by CAI PANLILIO

VOL.13 ISSUE 192 • TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2020

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EDGEDAVAO

DCCCII pushes for fast, improved internet

By MAYA M. PADILLO ith consumers resorting to online shopping amid pandemic restrictions, entrepreneurs have embraced the digital platform for online business even more and this is also the reason why the Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc., (DCCCII) is pushing for its fast and improved internet advocacy to help businesses avail of faster connectivity.

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In a statement, DCCCII echoed the call of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) for greater innovation for businesses noting the thousands of new online business registrations that have emerged amid the pandemic.

With the increased acceptance of online meetings, DCCCII’s efforts to build linkages with foreign chambers and business groups will expand in order to create more opportunities for local businesses and companies seeking investors and partners.

The group also believes that for businesses to fully recover, the economy and livelihoods must remain strong as many

businesses and their employees are still recovering from the effects of the pandemic and other earlier disruptions.

In response to the needs of the local business community, DCCCII’s business recovery agenda is being updated to include efforts to push entry of more local MSMEs into the $7.5 billion and growing digital economy, which are vital since these encourage safe transactions and keep businesses flowing under different circumstances.

In addition, the group continues to support local businesses through its Recovery for Business Initiative with the Department of Trade and Indus-

try (DTI), Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Department of Information and Communication Technology (DICT) and the academe where local businesses are encouraged to bring their innovation needs.

The recently concluded online Davao Agri Trade Expo 2020 (DATE 2020) activity by DCCCII was pushing for the “Buy Local” campaign to help revive the economy. As the Christmas season approaches, the group encourages Dabawenyos to patronize local goods and services in a safe manner.

DCCCII has also networked with government and private financial institutions to extend necessary loans particularly for the MSMEs affected by the pandemic.

DCCCII is optimistic that a good balance between keeping the economy strong and maintaining health and safety protocol can be achieved.

The group also commits to work hand-inhand with the city government of Davao and health officials in advocating for safety health practices.

spread of COVID-19.

“We still have not achieved real justice.

Some of the suspects are still at large. The fight is still a long way to go due to the legal process even if some of the Ampatuans were convicted,” said Morales, also the secretary of the Justice Now Movement, the association of the families of the media victims.

She was referring to the conviction of the brothers Andal Ampatuan, Jr., former mayor of Datu Unsay town and Zaldy Ampatuan, former governor of the defunct Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao in December 2019, 10 years after the gruesome slayings.

A court in Quezon City found 43 suspects guilty of multiple murder, including the two brothers, and acquitted 56 others, among them, the youngest Ampatuan sibling, Sajid.

Of the 43, 28 were convicted of reclusion perpetua (40 years sentence) without parole and 15 others sentenced to six to 10 years as accessories to the crime.

Sajid Ampatuan, who was among those acquitted in the Ampatuan massacre case. was vice governor of Maguindanao at the time of the massacre. He is now mayor of Shariff Saydona Mustapha town.

The clan’s patriarch, former Maguindanao Governor Andal Ampatuan, Sr., another principal suspect who was arrested in December 2009, succumbed to liver cancer in July

2015 while in detention.

The Ampatuan patriarch died 42 days after he was admitted at a state-owned hospital in Quezon City for “advanced liver cancer,” and four days after he lapsed into a coma after a massive heart attack.

Andal, Jr. and Zaldy have sought a reconsideration of the lower court’s decision before the Court of Appeals.

Close to 80 other suspects, a dozen of them surnamed Ampatuan, remain at large and are being hunted by authorities.

The Freedom for Media Freedom For All network comprising the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism, National Union of Journalists of the Philippines, Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility, MindaNews and the Philippine Press Institute, will hold an online forum “Commemorating the Ampatuan Massacre: Media Killings and the Culture of Impunity” The perpetrators tried to hide the gory massacre by burying the victims and their vehicles in freshly-dug graves in Sitio Masalay, Barangay Salman in Ampatuan town, using a backhoe of the provincial government of Maguindanao.

The November 23 slaughter came about after then Buluan Vice Mayor Esmael Mangudadatu challenged the decade-long power of the Ampatuans in Maguindanao.

Mangudadatu had sent his wife and several female

Department of Information and Communication Technology (DICT) proposes higher fines for telecommunication companies that fail to deliver their advertised internet speed. From the current P200 fine for each

Ampatuan Massacre at 11: kin of slain media workers forego site visit

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or the first time in a decade, families of the media workers killed in the infamous Ampatuan massacre in Maguindanao province on November 23, 2009 will not visit and offer prayers at the massacre site on its 11th anniversary on Monday due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

Mary Grace Morales, who lost two family members to the massacre masterminded by members of the influential Ampatuan clan, said their traditional visit a day or two before the massacre anniversary to pay respects to their loved ones and press for justice won’t push through “due to COVID-19 movement and mass gathering restrictions.”

Fifty eight persons including 32 media workers, were killed in the worst election-related violence in the country and the deadliest single attack against media workers in the world.

Morales, who lost her husband Roselle and sister Marites Cablitas both of News Focus, said they will instead offer a holy mass at the Forest Lake Memorial Park in General Santos City where some of the media victims were laid to rest.

She said the memorial park management allowed them to hold a commemoration activity with the condition that they will observe health protocols such as social distancing and wearing of personal protective equipment to prevent the

family members to file his certificate of candidacy at the Commission on Elections in Shariff Aguak, Maguindanao but their convoy was stopped by some 100 heavily-armed men led by then Datu Unsay town mayor Andal Ampatuan, Jr., in Ampatuan town, and herded them off to the hills where they were brutally killed. The media workers had joined the convoy to cover the filing of Mangudadatu’s COC. Mangudadatu eventually won the gubernatorial race and finished the three terms allowed by law. He is now serving as the representative of the second district of Maguindanao.

Mangudadatu and his supporters, normally numbering in the hundreds, have been commemorating the victims’ death anniversary at the massacre site every November 23.

Mangudadatu said they will do the same for the 11th anniversary.

“We’ll offer ecumenical prayers at the site and continue to press our demand for justice,” he said in a telephone interview, noting that some of the Ampatuans allegedly involved have not been charged and that many of the suspects are still free.

Mangudadatu said he expects “some 500 to 1,000 supporters to come to the massacre site on Monday.”

He said they will follow the health protocols “to protect ourselves from the coronavirus.” (Bong S. Sarmiento / MindaNews)

day of violation, DICT has recommended to increase the fine to P2 million per day to ensure telcos deliver on their promised internet speed. Edge Davao

AFP deploys 25-man medical contingent to Davao City

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he Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Monday deployed a 25-member medical contingent to Davao City which has been classified as a "restricted LGU (local government unit)" following the increase in coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) cases in the city.

AFP deputy chief-ofstaff for civil-military operations Maj. Gen. Benedict Arevalo represented chiefof-staff Gen. Gilbert Gapay during the sendoff ceremony at the Villamor Air Base in Pasay City.

National Task Force on Covid-19 chief implementer Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. led the ceremony which was also attended

by Department of the Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año and retired Maj. Gen. Melquiades Feliciano, NTF deputy chief implementer for the Visayas, The contingent is composed of five teams of military doctors and nurses, and medical aides from the AFP Health Service Command, Philippine Army, Philippine Navy, and the Philippine Air Force.

These medical teams would head to Davao City to augment efforts to prevent further spread of Covid-19 and increase the health system capability of the city.

This after Davao City was classified as “Restricted LGU” due to the surge of Covid-19 cases in the area which has reached 5,562 as of Nov. 20.

“We are tirelessly

working together since the Covid pandemic started, the continuous and collective efforts of the AFP have all yielded fruitful results as we are able to provide medical service despite the growing challenges in our society,” Arevalo said in delivering Gapay's message.

The contingent is led by the most senior officer, Maj. Sheryl D. Balmeo from the Philippine Army Medical Corps. All members of the contingent underwent swab testing and flu vaccination before their flight at 8 a.m. via a Philippine Air Force C-130 aircraft.

Upon the arrival of the contingent, the Eastern Mindanao Command (EastMinCom) will assume operational control of the medical teams. EastMincom will provide billeting, security, and service support for the contingent during the duration of their deployment as Davao City is under its area-of-responsibility.

To date, the AFP has deployed over 2,000 doctors, nurses, and medical auxiliary personnel in Covid-19 treatment and quarantine facilities nationwide.

The AFP has also deployed 10,945 personnel to community quarantine assistance areas nationwide to support Sub-Task Group Peace and Order.

“Nakita natin na sa lahat ng anumang (We have seen that in any) calamities, whether it is typhoon, earthquake or even flooding, nandyan kayo, alam nyo yung sitwasyon

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VOL.13 ISSUE 192 • TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2020

Fresh chicken are being displayed at a stall at Agdao Public Market in Davao City. A local supplier assures the public there is enough chicken supply to address the country’s demand ahead of the upcoming holiday season. Edge Davao

G20 leaders seek to help poorest countries in post-COVID world T

PH to showcase fintech strategies at big-name world event in Dec.

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eaders of the 20 biggest economies on Saturday vowed to ensure a fair distribution of COVID-19 vaccines, drugs and tests around the world and do what was needed to support poorer countries struggling to recover from the coronavirus pandemic.

“We will spare no effort to ensure their affordable and equitable access for all people, consistent with members’ commitments to incentivize innovation,” the leaders said in a draft G20 communique seen by Reuters. “We recognize the role of extensive immunization as a global public good.”

The twin crises of the pandemic and an uneven, uncertain global recovery dominated the first day of a two-day summit under the chairmanship of Saudi Arabia, which hands off the rotating presidency of the G20 to Italy next month.

The COVID-19 pandemic, which has thrown the global economy into a deep recession this year, and efforts needed to underpin an economic rebound in 2021, were at the top of the agenda.

“We must work to create the conditions for affordable and equitable access to these tools for all peoples,” Saudi Arabia’s King Salman bin Abdulaziz said in his opening remarks.

G20 leaders are concerned that the pandemic

might further deepen global divisions between the rich and the poor.

“We need to avoid at all costs a scenario of a two-speed world where only the richer can protect themselves against the virus and restart normal lives,” French President Emmanuel Macron told the summit.

To do that, the European Union urged G20 leaders quickly to put more money into a global project for vaccines, tests and therapeutics - called Access to COVID-19 Tools (ACT) Accelerator - and its COVAX facility to distribute vaccines.

“At the G20 Summit I called for $4.5 billion to be invested in ACT Accelerator by the end of 2020, for procurement & delivery of COVID-19 tests, treatments and vaccines everywhere,” European Commission head Ursula von der Leyen said on Twitter.

“We need to show global solidarity,” she said.

Germany was contributing more than 500 million euros ($592.65 million) to the effort, Chancel-

lor Angela Merkel told the G20, urging other countries to do their part, according to a text of her remarks.

Russian President Vladimir Putin offered to provide Russia’s Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine to other countries and said Moscow was also preparing a second and third vaccine.

China, where the pandemic originated a year ago, also offered to cooperate on vaccines. China has five home-grown candidates for a vaccine undergoing the last phase of trials.

“China is willing to strengthen cooperation with other countries in the research and development, production, and distribution of vaccines,” President Xi Jinping told the G20 Summit.

“We will ... offer help and support to other developing countries, and work hard to make vaccines a public good that citizens of all countries can use and can afford,” he said.

US President Donald Trump, who lost the US presidential election but has refused to concede to former Vice President Joe Biden, addressed G20 leaders briefly before going golfing. He discussed the need to work together to restore economic growth, White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany said in a summary released late on Saturday.

She made no mention of any US pledge to support the global vaccine distribution effort. One European source said Trump’s remarks were focused on what he described as an unprecedented US recovery and the US drive to develop its own vaccines.

PREPARE FOR THE FUTURE To prepare for future outbreaks, the EU is proposing a treaty on pandemics. “An international treaty would help us respond more quickly and in a more coordinated manner,” European Council President Charles Michel told the G20.

While the global economy is recovering from the depths of the crisis, momentum is slowing in countries with resurgent infection rates and the pandemic is likely to leave deep scars, the International Monetary Fund said in a report for the summit.

Especially vulnerable are poor and highly indebted countries, which are “on the precipice of financial ruin and escalating poverty, hunger and untold suffering”, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Friday.

To address this, the G20 will endorse a plan to extend a freeze in debt service payments by the poorest countries to mid-2021 and endorse a common

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he Philippines will virtually host the first World Fintech Festival (WFF) in December and showcase its digital footprint globally, a bid to revolutionize the country's digital marketing and ramp up financial technology practices.

The virtual event is set on December 7 to 11, and will feature talks from technology innovators Bill Gates, Google CEO Sundar Pichai, and Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, organizers said.

The talk featuring those global technology leaders will be broadcast in 10 free sessions on social media sites Facebook and YouTube.

"This year’s WFF shall spotlight key executives and decision-makers from different Asian nations as they discuss how they pilot fintech to produce societal impacts," a statement to the press read.

It will be co-presented by telecommunications company Globe, and organized by GeiserMaclang Marketing Communications Inc. (GMCI).

GMCI estimated that the WFF, previously presented as the Singapore Fintech Festival, would draw business leaders from at least 140 countries.

"The WFF-Philippines is intended to galvanize Philippine industries to accelerate their own adoption of fintech, be open to innovation, and invest in their workforce’s digital

upskilling," the statement read.

The five-day event was also made to "bring together the public and private sector" to bridge and create an inclusive digital economy, it added.

Sopnendu Mohanty, chief fintech officer of the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), noted the country's readiness in the financial technology landscape.

“The Philippines is the country that I will never ignore. You have a remarkable GDP and a fairly young demographic. The true test of a company’s strength comes from a crisis, and the businesses in the Philippines have truly demonstrated this,” Mohanty said in a virtual press conference on November 18.

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Director Melchor Plabasan, Mynt President and CEO Martha Sazon, UnionBank of the Philippines Chairman Dr. Justo Ortiz, Noel Bonoan, KPMG Vice Chairman and COO, and lawyer Mark Gorriceta, Managing Partner of Gorriceta Africa Cauton & Saavedra, will headline this year's WFF. Amplifying PH's tech hub to global investors GMCI co-founder and WFF convenor Amor Maclang said the event could showcase the country as a tech hub "attractive to global investors."

“We are championing the Philippines, following the footsteps of Singapore,

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VOL.13 ISSUE 192 • TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2020

Chicken supply enough, supplier assures public

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here is enough chicken supply to address the country's demand, local supplier Vitarich Corp. assured the public over the weekend, ahead of the upcoming holiday season.

According to Vitarich food sales manager for Luzon Joey Macaraeg, the country has enough chicken supplies that have more than doubled from last year, with the industry well-prepared to cater to the needs of the public amid the COVID-19 pandemic and even with the recent typhoons that hit the country.

"The chicken industry has prepared itself for the unusual demand for chicken and chicken products this year in spite of all that the Philippines has gone through," he said.

Vitarich's primary products include feed products sold to various distributors and dealers and end users nationwide; day old chicks; and chicken and dory fish sold to hotels, restaurants, institutional

clients, and supermarkets and wet markets.

It has operating offices in Luzon, Iloilo, and Davao, and satellite offices in Southern Philippines.

Latest data available from the National Meat Inspection Services (NMIS) shows that as of October 26, 2020, the country had a total of 82,561.55 metric tons (MT) of dressed chicken in cold storages -- 37,305.13 MT local, and 45,256 MT imported.

This compares with the 23,551.31 MT recorded the same period last year comprising 8,453.94 MT local and 15,097.38 MT imported.

The figures do not include fresh chilled chicken, and only covers data from accredited facilities. The inventory already in distribution channels are not included.

Latest data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), however, shows that poultry production fell by 7.2% in the third quarter of the year.

SM City Minpro opens Nov. 27

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ust in time for Christmas, SM City Mindpro opens its doors in Zamboanga City, on Friday, November 27, 2020, bringing great shopping, leisure, and entertainment to this beautiful western Mindanao city.

It is SM Prime Holdings’ 76th supermall, the seventh in Mindanao, and the first in the Zamboanga Peninsula region.

Zamboanga City, 6th most populous and 3rd largest city by land area in the Philippines, is the region’s cultural, economic, and educational center.

Highly urbanized, it is a busy port strategically located on the southwestern tip of the Zamboanga Peninsula, on Basilan Strait, and sheltered by Basilan Island. The immediate coastal lowlands are narrow with low, rugged hills located a short distance inland.

Zamboanga’s Spanish-style architecture, breathtakingly beautiful beaches, mountainous backdrop, and cool climate make it a favorite tourist destination.

Founded by Spanish forces in 1635 on the site of a native settlement, Zamboanga is known as Asia’s Latin City, and most residents speak the local dialect Chavacano, a Spanish based Creole language. Strong Spanish and Latin influences may also be found in the city’s architecture and historical attractions like Fort Pilar, the shine of Our Lady of the Pillar which was built in the 17th century to protect the city against pirates.

Zamboanga City is also known as Ciudad de Flores or City of Flowers, as bougainvillea, orchids, and other tropical flowers line up its roadsides. And today, hope blooms in the City of Flowers as SM opens a new mall in Zamboanga during these challenging times, a symbol of resilience, confidence, and optimism.

Strategically located in a 13,078 square- meter site

along La Purisima Street and Campaner Street in Barangay Zone III, SM City Mindpro will serve shoppers in this bustling city, as well as those in the rest of the Zamboanga Peninsula.

These include the provinces of Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, and Zamboanga Sibugay; as well as the cities of Dapitan, Dipolog, Isabela, and Pagadian. More than that, it will be a catalyst for employment and business opportunities in the area.

The four-level 59,383 square meter mall creates a unique identity along the city’s popular thoroughfare and within a short walk to the well-known Metropolitan Cathedral, Plaza Pershing, Paseo Del Mar and nearby pier. Striking glass walls at the main entrances and a dramatic linear overhang stretching along La Purisima Street create an impressive appearance for the mall when approached in every direction The mall’s interiors are distinctly crisp and modern with textures and relaxing colors that give one the sense of being on a tropical holiday in an urban paradise.

The SM Store and SM Supermarket are SM City Mindpro’s major anchors, along with SM mainstays like SM Appliance Center, ACE Hardware, Watsons, Surplus, Miniso, and Sports Central. It will also have fashion boutiques, jewelry stores, bookstores; as well as a Cyberzone and service and wellness outlets.

Eating out options include specialty restaurants, and international and local food chains like Hap Chan, Pancake House, Bigby’s, Buffalo Wings N’ Things, Dunkin Donut, Cinnabon, Pretzelmaker, Chatime, and Macao Imperial Tea. Dining in the mall is experiential, not only because of the exciting food choices in its

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ECONOMY 5

Members of the Malibacao Agricultural Cooperative in South Upi, Maguindanao drying coffee cherries on a “raised bed.” Photo courtesy of Estanislao M. Gepte Jr.

Maguindanao’s Upi coffee wins silver award in Paris competition

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blend of native Maguindanao coffee from the municipality of South Upi won second place in a competition in Paris last week.

Farmed by local coffee farmers of North and South Upi in Maguindanao and processed by the Malibacao Agricultural Cooperative and North Star Upi Coffee, then roasted by the experts of the non-governmental organization Coffee Heritage Project in Quezon City, the blend won a “Gourmet Argent” (silver) award in the “Puissant Doux” category of the 6th Coffees Roasted at Origin International Contest.

“Puissant Doux” translates to “powerful soft,” but the website of the Paris-based Agency for the Valorization of Agricultural Products (AVPA) who organized the contest, said it means “strong coffee, softness in the mouth at the end.”

“It’s unlike other coffee because it has a kick at the start, a spike, then it mellows as it cools, with a sweet ending,” boasts Estanislao M. Gepte, Jr., proprietor of North Star Upi Coffee.

There were eight other categories in the AVPA competition: coffee with

aromatic and acidulate characters well balanced; acidulate coffee developing a very fruity taste; soft, smooth and acidulate coffee; soft, smooth and aromatic coffee; soft smooth coffee with fruity aromatic character; strength and bitterness dominating, hiding other characters; coffee with a powerful, aromatic and acidulate character; coffee with all flavors and aromas in a good balance.

AVPA said there were 150 coffees from 25 countries in four continents submitted for this year’s contest. Among the coffee powerhouse countries include Colombia, Congo, Ecuador, Ethiopia, Honduras, Indonesia, Kenya, Mexico, Nicaragua, Peru, Rwanda and Hawaii in the United States.

Growing in the wild Gepte was not originally in the coffee business, having delved into fishponds shortly after finishing his civil engineering studies in the 1980s. He left fisheries in 2013, and worked as a consultant for an NGO while living in Co-

tabato City.

He said in a telephone interview on Friday that sometime in 2017, a friend from North Upi approached him if he could take a look at the situation of local farmers and help them with their corn harvest that was selling so low in the market.

He went to Upi, checked the product, then went to Manila to look for a market.

To his dismay, he found out that feed millers in Batangas were getting their imported corn at a much lower price.

Since he could do nothing about the corn, he asked the farmers: “Do you have other commodities we could sell?”

Yes, they have coffee, of the native variety. He took a look at the farms situated between 700 and 1,000 meters above sea level, and found wild coffee trees of the four major species – robusta, arabica, liberica and excelsa.

“These are trees that are 10 to 30 years old growing in the wild,” Gepte said.

But when he looked at the harvest, he concluded that quality was poor. But he saw the potential.

He said soil in South Upi is good, there is enough

rain, and rarely does the weather get too hot – conditions that are ideal for growing coffee.

Gepte said that a few years back, he collaborated with an employee of the Department of Trade and Industry in helping coffee farmers in Sulu successfully improve their produce.

“Why not replicate it in Maguindanao?” he thought.

With his little knowledge about coffee, and with the help of an agronomist friend and the chairman of the cooperative, Boy Favila, who attended some seminars on coffee, he encouraged the coffee growers on good farming practices.

Upi Coffee He promised to buy their harvest at a much higher price if the farmers would follow his suggestions to improve their coffee.

“Before, farmers here would harvest coffee the ‘Armalite’ way, getting everything in one go, even the green cherries that are still not ripe,” Gepte said.

He pointed out that because the farmers have not received help from any of the government line agencies, and thus no facilities to process their coffee, they usually just left their cof-

G20 leaders during a videoconference meeting.

“We need to guard against doing too little now, and then suffering disorderly defaults and repeated debt restructurings as in the 1980s,” he said.

The so-called ‘lost decade’ of the 1980s saw many highly indebted countries in Latin America and elsewhere unable to pay their debts, delaying growth and efforts to reduce poverty.

Malpass, who began pushing for debt relief early in the COVID-19 crisis, warned that debt challenges were becoming more frequent, including in Chad, Angola, Ethiopia and Zambia, and failure to provide “more permanent

debt relief” left a bleak outlook for reducing poverty.

G20 leaders are poised to formally endorse extension of a temporary freeze in official bilateral debt payments by the poorest countries, and adoption of a common framework for debt restructuring in the future.

Some countries, including China, have remained reluctant to embrace the need for debt cancellation, although top economists say that will likely be needed in some cases. Private sector creditors have also failed to join in, despite repeated calls by G20 leaders, civil society groups and the United Nations.

Malpass said the Bank

was working closely with the G20 in countries affected by fragility, conflict and violence, including the Sahel, Somalia, Lebanon, Gaza and the West Bank.

In Sudan, he said he was hopeful that arrears clearance could move quickly, especially given the inflow of refugees from neighboring Ethiopia, which would allow substantial World Bank funding to begin flowing almost immediately.

The United States last month moved to remove Sudan from its list of state sponsors of terrorism, clearing away one of the hurdles facing the heavily indebted African country, which has some $60 billion in external debt.

FMAGUINDANAO, P9

World Bank warns G20 for doing too little to tackle debt problems

W

orld Bank President David Malpass on Saturday warned G20 leaders that failing to provide more permanent debt relief to some countries now could lead to increased poverty and a repeat of the disorderly defaults seen in the 1980s.

Malpass said he was pleased by progress made by the Group of 20 major economies on increasing debt transparency and providing debt relief to the poorest countries, but more was needed.

“Debt reduction and transparency will enable productive investment, a key to achieving an earlier, stronger and more lasting recovery,” Malpass told

6 VANTAGE EDGEDAVAO

VOL.13 ISSUE 192 • TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2020

On the possibility of placing the 35 barangays in Davao City under granular lockdown: (There can be) a discussion sa pagsulod sa CODE Team but kung naa na decision na ingon ana I’m sure the CODE Team will make the proper announcements at correct time ... It may be a different direction sa CODE Teams, so we will wait sa CODE Team nga kung mag-decide sila nga mag-ECQ ug mag barangay lockdown or mag zone lockdowns sa kanang mga identified 35 barangays.”

Davao City Mayor

Inday Sara Duterte

EDGEDAVAO

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ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR. LEANDRO S. DAVAL JR. DR. MAURO L. PUYOD CHA MONFORTE Cartoonist Correspondent Consultant Columnists: MA. TERESA L. UNGSON • EDCER C. ESCUDERO • AURELIO A. PEÑA • ZHAUN ORTEGA • BERNADETTE “ADDIE” B. BORBON • MARY ANN C. QUISIDO • LEANDRO DAVAL SR.,TRIA • NIKKI GOTIANSE-TAN NICASIO ANGELO AGUSTIN • EMILY Columnists: ANTONIO V.“ADI” FIGUEROA • HENRYLITO D. TACIO •B.JOHN CARLO • MUJAHID NAVARRA ••FRED C. LUMBA • DENNIS R. GORECHO ZEN CHUA • CARLOS MUNDA Economic Analyst: ENRICO •“GICO” G. S. DAYANGIRANG • JONALLIER GREGORIO G. DELIGERO VIDA MIA VALVERDE • HAROLD CAVITE M. PEREZ

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ANTONIO M. AJERO Editor in Chief

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EDGEDAVAO

VOL.13 ISSUE 192 • TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2020

7 EDGEDAVAO

VOL.13 ISSUE 192 • TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2020

VANTAGE POINTS

UP AND ABOUT

HENRYLITO D. TACIO

MILO PROVIDES KIDS FREE ACCESS TO FUN, SPORTY MY FIRST AMERICAN TRIP ACTIVITIES AND ONLINE TOURNAMENTS AT HOME THINK ON THESE!

Who doesn’t want to go to the United States? I was still in high school when I dreamed of going to MANILA, Philippines, the land of milk and honey.

23 November 2020 –I had A the As a science journalist, opportunity of going of to other counsteady amount physitries activity but not in the US.help My aunt Aida cal can and my sister Elena were already children overcome there; both are married tothe Ameriunnecessary stress cans. “Why don’t you comethat and visit us?” Daniel Chase, my sister’s comes with being at husband, asked me. home and away from Easier said than done. Getting their friends an American visafor waslong the hardest part. Then of opportunity when periods time. Incame fact, award-winning American journalist according to the World Don Hinrichsen suggested whether I Health Organization come to the US or he would visit the Philippines in writing a report (WHO), it is highly rec-on water and population. ommended for children “Instead of you coming to my ages 5-17 tohim, accumulate, country, ” I told “why don’t you at least, 60 minutes of I had invite me to come to the US? never been there yet.activity. ” daily physical Don agreed. And that was how Especially at this I was able to come to thedelicate US. I went stage in their lives and 5, there the first time on December 2000.

I remember it well.year as theYes,online school “Where are youactivity going this begins, physical time,” my loving mother asked me. has become all the moreour She was already used to leaving important inand children’s home every now then and of my trips abroad. overall health and wellI had not been telling anyone being that lead about the tripcan sincealso I didn’t want to school success. them to know just in case I won’t make it. Big Apple, as New York is sometimes called, I that told active her. Her MILO believes eyes widened. She couldn’t believe kids make for better learners what she heard. it’s a dream come true,” I and “Yes, has remained committed told her as I wiped the falling to building championstears in sports from her eyes. She never said a word and inthat life.but As instead such, together after hugged me with its“Take long-standing partner tightly. care and have a safe trip,” she said. sports organizers, they have

sponsored a series of online tournaments to help parents keep their kids active and healthy at home; giving them more opportunities to grow holistically and a chance to connect with other like-minded kids.

One example is the MILOsponsored National Kids Athletics Games Online. Organized by the Philippine Athletics

Although international law prescribes that the seafarer has the right to be repatriated back to their point of origin, there are those who suffer abandonment by their employers.

Repatriation comes from the Latin word repatriare, “return to one’s own country,” from the prefix re, “back,” and patria, “native land.”

Seafarers are considered contractual employees since their employment is fixed for a period of time which shall not exceed 12 months.

The commencement of POEA contract is from the time when the seafarer actually departs from the Philippines, either airport or seaport, for employment.

It shall cease when he completes his period of contractual service aboard the ship, signsoff from the ship and arrives at the point of hire.

The POEA contract requires the seafarer to arrive at the point of hire as it signifies the completion of the employment contract, and not merely its expiration.

Similarly, a seafarer’s em-

If there was a foreign trip that was so exciting, this was it! In fact, the night trip, I was not Track andbefore Fieldthe Association able to sleep well. I was afraid I (PATAFA), is a 2-wave might be latethis in going to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Maonline competition for kidsinup nila.

So, even if it was still three to 14 years old. The task is to in the morning, I woke up and took a recordAfterwards, themselvesI went completing bath. to the aira series fundamental run, port andof checked in.

Theand Northwest Airlineswithflight throw, jump exercises from Manila to Narita was not that in a specified limit. to long, only fourtime hours.

WeHow disemproperlyatexecutes these moves barked the Narita International Airport stayed a couple will be and shown in there demofor videos of hours before our plane left for the led by national team members United States. This time, the flight and long.

SEAG gold medalists, such was For Toledo, the nextWillie thirteen-hoursas Aries Morand-a-half, I was doing what2019 most rison, Kristina Knott, and passengers were also doing: eating, Nationalwriting, MILO walking, Marathon reading, drinking, Queen Christine Hallasgo. playing, watching movies, and sleeping.On When bored, I watched top feeling of getting quality other passengers. guidance Therefrom was star a athletes mother and botbeing named their age group tle-feeding her baby.

An American couple, champion, winners willwho alsowere three seats away from me, were earn a spot in the Kids Athletics talking, or were they arguing (sorry, Games next year. The INational really could not tell the difference)?

They were, after all, too farand for me competition is ongoing freeto eavesdrop. registration is still open for chilIn another lane, one huge man drensnoring interested in participating. was out loud (was the lady To know moretodetails, parents near him trying find another seat, Imust can only visitguess). the PATAFA website Two fat men – probably not (www.philathletics.org).

Greeks! – were drinking to their Nextcontent year, parents and kids heart’s while another one was on his computer. can typing also look forward to joining Before I knew it, I was already the Bida Best Freestyle online in a deep slumber. Then, I was contest. Organized by thesaid Basawakened when the pilot that ketball Efficiency Scientific we would be landing&soon.

My heart was beating fast. Center Finally, Iand will be Training (BEST)

able to see the US of my dreams.

“Welcome to New York,” the airport sign said. Thank you, I said to myself but my biggest problem was: how do I get to know Don, whom I have never met yet? In his email five days earlier, he told me to go to the airport’s waiting area and look for “a tall guy with mustache and wearing a hat.”

The information was not enough so I decided to e-mail also Dr. James Hansen, a former colleague who now works in New York. “Yes, I will pick you at the airport,” James assured me in his reply to my e-mail.

Now, if I would miss spotting Don, then there was James. Or, vice-versa. Since I knew James personally, he was the first person I looked for at the waiting area. He wasn’t around; maybe he was late, I consoled myself. So, I decided to carry out the second plan: to search for “a tall guy with mustache wearing a hat.”

I spotted three men who fit the description. Who among these three was Don? Using my gut feeling, I approached one person and asked him if he was Don. He answered affirmatively. Still not convinced, I requested for his identification card.

He showed his ID without much ado.

He was Don, indeed, and we started talking with each other.

We were in the middle of our conversation when someone and can choose between 13Ufrom or behind called my name. I knew it U18 James categories.

Those interested was (I recognized his voice).

“Sorry, I wasn’t able to the recognize are encouraged to visit offiyou, Henry, ” he apologized.

“But cial MILO® Philippines (https:// when I hear your voice, I am sure it www.facebook.com/milo.ph/) is you.” and This BEST Center at Sports Inc. happened the time when social media – particularly Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/

sponsored by MILO, this virtual BESTCENTERSPORTS/) Faceevent challenges young, aspirbook pages to stay updated on ing athletes to showcase their the final details. basketball skills and creativity.

Both the PATAFA National Here, participants will be tasked Kids Athletics Games Online to create video presentations of and Bida Best Freestyle are a them performingKUWENTONG ballhandling part of the MILO Home Court KULE drills, featuring the BEST 14 campaign that aims to provide taught in the camps and some parents and their children acof their own creation. BEST cess to the resources they need Center graduates and current to jumpstart and continue their participants are eligible to join, sporting ambitions, in the com-

DENNIS R. GORECHO

– was not yet very popular!

Since Don knew the hotel where I would be staying in New York for the next 10 days, I decided to go with him. James understood the situation. But before he left, he asked Don about the hotel and then told me that he would pick me up by Saturday morning.

It was still Wednesday when I arrived. When Don and I arrived at the hotel, he told me not to sleep.

After all, it was still two in the afternoon. “Okay, thanks for the advice,” I told him before saying goodbye.

But when I was alone in my room, I tried to stretch my body and before I knew it, I was already sleeping. I woke up at 8:30 pm and was already starving. I went out and looked for a place where I could eat.

Not far from my hotel, I saw a Mexican restaurant, not very fancy but was serving pizza, short orders and drinks.

Not knowing what to eat, I ordered what was familiar to me: pizza, chicken wings and soft drink. I ate my food with much gusto. The following night, I went again to the same place. The same waiter was serving me and I ordered the same thing. On the third night, I still went to the same place. The same waiter was there. But before I could utter my order, the waiter said, “Do you want pizza, chicken wings and soft drink, sir?”

Wasown my face red? fortsDuring of their home. my first three days in continueany New“We’re York, Iexcited did notto experience chilly weather. Butwith on thePATAFA fourth day, our partnership Iand ventured to visit the Central Park, BEST Center as we explore which was not very far from the hoother creative outlets to and helpwent tel.

I woke up very early kids getthe active and healthy at my outside hotel.

I was only on fifth stepsays when I feltPhilippines the unpleashome,” Nestlé

Assistant Vice President and MILO Sports Manager Lester Castillo. “With our MILO Home Court program, we remain committed to helping parents find opportunities to continue their kid’s champion journey.”

Launched this year, the new MILO Champion Formula now contains more milk, mas siksik pa sa Champion Energy Nutri-

antly cold air that I had to rush back to the hotel. “Anything wrong, sir?”

Feeling embarrassed, I answered, “I just forgot something from my room.”

Exploring New York was not a herculean task. If you know how to count (first, second, third, etc.) and are familiar with directions (east, west, south and north), then you won’t get lost in the Big Apple. You don’t have to ride a taxi to get to know New York. Just walk.

And that’s what I did. While walking, I finally got a glimpse of people whom I had seen in movies before: a teenager buying coffee and donut in the street, a man preaching on the street corner, a female walking who seemed to come out live from a glossy magazine, and an old woman pushing a cart.

Life in New York (even in other parts of the United States) is a matter of choice. Even when buying food. So, you have to be very specific.

I made that mistake when I ordered a soft drink. “Diet or Classic?” the waitress asked. When I answered, she asked again, “In can or in a bottle?”

My first trip to the United States was indeed memorable. It broadened my mind. It gave me the opportunity of meeting fascinating people along the way. More importantly, it offered me a new perspective of what life really is. ents na PROTOMALT®, Iron, my at “So, how was the trip?”

Vitamins B2,me B3,when B6, and B12,me mother asked she saw coming out from carpinarami when I arat mas sulit dahilthemas rived back home.

She was smiling. na ang isang sachet at the same I hugged her and whispered, “It was suggested retail price, parents great, mom!” will And, be able kidstoo, by to theequip way, Itheir learned, that New sleeps. with the York rightnever energy to remain

active and healthy at home.

At ngayon, sa pinasulit ang MILO with its new Twin Pack.

Get two 24g servings and save P2.00! Available in all channels nationwide.

Stay up-to-date with all MILO Home Court activities by checking out the MILO® Philippines Facebook page and https://www.milo.com.ph/ for more information.

JOINT AND SOLIDARY LIABILITY IN SEAFARERS’ ABANDONMENT CASES

ployment contract is terminated even before the contract expires as soon as he arrives at the point of hire and signs off for medical reasons, due to shipwreck, voluntary resignation or for other just causes like vessel sale and change of principal.

However, in most cases of abandonment, a shipowner has become incapable of generating required funds to continue with daily marine operations.

It then withdraws all responsibility by failing to meet its obligations regarding seafarers’ financial and social security (contractual wages), the provision of basic necessities of life (adequate food, accommodation, and medical care) and repatriation costs.

Combined with the dangers of the elements of the sea, the abandoned crew have to face the stressful and inhumane consequences of being stranded in a country where they do not speak the language, and the difficulties of financial constraints due to unpaid wages.

According to the International Maritime Organization

LANDBANK LISTS P5-B SUSTAINABILITY BONDS ON PDEX

(IMO), there are 438 cases of abandonment (5,767 seafarers) that have been recorded since 2004 until August 2020. In 2020 alone, 31 cases (concerning 470 seafarers) have been recorded to date.

Filipino seafarers stranded onboard the Oceanstar 86 for almost six months in the STATE-RUN Land Bank of waters off the coast of Fujian, Chithe Philippines (LANDBANK) na were reported after a video successfully listed its P5 billion showed their dire living conmaiden offering of Sustainditions and pleaded for their ability Bonds on the Philippine immediate rescue.

They were recently repatriated back to the Dealing and Exchange Corp. country.

(PDEx) during a virtual cerAs held longonasNovember the seafarers emony 17. have not arrived at the point of The issuance was more hire, they are entitled to paythan five times oversubscribed, ment of monetary benefits under contract. withthe total bids reaching P16.6 Theleading seafarertoisan entitled to be Billion, increase paid his wages and other benein the total issue size from P3 fits after the expiration of his Billion toand P5 Billion.

LANDcontract during the extendBANK closed period ed period untilthe theoffer vessel’s arrival port.

The oblionatitsa convenient very first day of offering gations and liabilities the local last October 26, 2020of given the agency and its foreign principal overwhelming market demand do not end upon the expiration forthe thecontracted issue. of period as they “Amidst the backdrop of a were duty bound to repatriate the seamaneconomic to the point of hire recovering environ-

to effectively terminate the contract of employment. (Interorient Maritime Enterprises, Inc. v.

NLRC,330 Phil. 493).

The POEA rules states that the manning agency shall assume “joint and solidary liability” with the employer, which is meant to assure aggrieved workers andthe sufment, weof areimmediate pleased with ficient payment of what is strong investor confidence indue them.

LANDBANK’s stable financial The Amended Migrant position.

The (strong interestalso Workers Act R.A. 10022) is also athat clearthe reflection the states agencyofwhich deployed and the growing employees conscious de- shall be jointly and solidarilyand liable mand for environmental with the principal for the money socially responsible programs claims awarded to the employand ees. initiatives that LANDBANK LANDThepromotes,” Supreme said Court explainedPresident in the case Catan v.

BANK andofCEO NLRC ( C. 160 SCRA 691, 695) the Cecilia Borromeo. rationale : “This mustSustainbe so, beThe LANDBANK cause the obligations covenantability Bonds were priced at ed in the manning agreement aentered couponinto ratebyofand 2.5872% perthe between local agent and itsquarterly, foreign princiannum, payable the pal are not coterminus with the lowest rate among comparable term of It such so that issuers. has agreement a tenor of two if either or both of the parties years, 2022. Thethe decidematuring to end thein agreement, minimum investment amount responsibilities of such parties towards theand contracted employis P50,000 in multiples of

ees under the agreement do not at all end, but the same extends up to and until the expiration of the employment contracts of the employees recruited and employed pursuant to the said recruitment agreement. Otherwise, this will render nugatory the very purpose for which the law governing the employment P10,000 thereafter. of The workers for foreign Sustainability Bondsjobs abroad was enacted.” are designed to finance various The 2014 amendments to loan support the programs Maritime that Labor Convensustainable and social tion 2006 green (MLC2006) require shipowners to have compulsoprojects in accordance with ry insurance toSustainable cover abandonLANDBANK’s ment of seafarers for up to four Finance Framework. months’ outstanding wages and Standard Chartered Bank entitlements.

It must also cover (SCB) is the expenses Sole Arranger reasonable fromand the moment of abandonment Bookrunner of the bonds,to asthe timeas ofco-Selling arrival back home such well Agent with as repatriation, food, clothing, LANDBANK. accommodation, drinking water, For more please fuel medical care updates, and essential Follow, Likeon and Share the offor survival board.

Gorecho Facebook, heads the ficialAtty.

LANDBANK seafarers’ division of theacSapaInstagram and YouTube lo Velez Bundang Bulilan counts (@landbankofficial), law offices. For comments, send Twitter (@LBP_Official), or an e-mail to info@sapalovelez. visit websiteor com the or LANDBANK call 09175025808 09088665786 (www.landbank.com).

8

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.13 ISSUE 192 • TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2020

COMPETITIVE EDGE

HOLY CHILD URBAN CONTAINER GARDENING

Y

The practice of urban container gardening means growing crops in portable and recycled

containers, in places where agricultural land spaces are not available.

With the help of trellises

and good and compact irrigation, urban container gardening allows for crops to be planted in tight spaces and in vertical structures.

This practice is also beneficial in fighting plastic pollution, as containers can be made out of what would otherwise be seen as waste, such as old plastic bottles.

Is there a better way to provide than that by growing your own

in the varied activities.

Despite the transition to the online platform, HOLY CHILD endeavors to overcome these challenges and still promote

active learning. Moreover, we see this time not as a year of misery, but a bridge to hope that whatever affects the delivery of quality educa-

tion and hinders the acquisition of literacy will be overcome. David Archer once said, “Literacy is the fertilizer needed for development to take

ou don’t need a lot of land to grow a lot of food.

Growing populations and expanding cities have put more pressure on food security. Larger populations mean more mouths to feed, and with agricultural lands being transformed to accommodate urbanization, many now suffer from starvation and poor nutrition.

food? Through urban gardening, you have direct choice over what you grow and eat, and you’ll be able to provide yourself with a stable and healthy food supply.

HOLY CHILD teachers and students continue to be one in this initiative in fighting plastic pollution and promoting urban gardening. # H O LYC H I L D L e a d ingTheWay. Jona Jane F. Jumawan and Ruth S. Gamelo

root and grow.” Let our ultimate goal be to understand the world we live in and participate in our community with less or no barriers.

HOLY CHILD Celebrates Literacy Month amidst Pandemic

T

his year, HOLY CHILD continues to celebrate the month of Literacy with the theme, “Literacy teaching and learning in the COVID-19 crisis and beyond." Along with this is our tagline, “Transmit Knowledge.

Promote Social Participation.” It is the time of the year when students are given opportunities to develop varied competencies through joining different activities.

Students discover their interests and talents while developing values and uphold competencies. The only difference is that they participate in these activities using varied online platforms.

This program aims to embark on transformation by deepening their sense of belonging and social integration. This month, we aim to develop our students’ skills in different aspects particularly their proficiency in macro skills. HOLY CHILD envisions to continue with this tradition amidst the limitation brought by the pandemic.

Last November 9, 2020, HOLY CHILD, spearheaded by the English Department, launched the activities for the entire month.

These include: 3-DAY VOCABULARY CHALLENGE for the Primary learners, DECLAMATION CHALLENGE for Middle-Grade learners, ORATORICAL SPEECH CHALLENGE, and SPEAK UP CHALLENGE exclusively for Junior High School learners,

and ESSAY COMPOSITION CHALLENGE open to all Middle Graders and Junior High School learners. During the 3-DAY SPELLING or VOCABULARY CHALLENGE which happened last November 9-13, 2020, HOLY CHILD featured our Primary learners who took the time to share their knowledge on the official Facebook page of the English Department, HOLY CHILD ENLITE. “ENLITE” stands for English Literacy Enthusiasts. Furthermore, participants in the remaining activities will also be featured on the said Facebook page. This platform indeed plays an essential role in this celebration, for the majority of our learners use this not only for entertainment but also for academic purposes. All the above-mentioned activities aim to give further opportunities for the students to share their knowledge, promote social participation using the online platform, express themselves scholastically, boost their confidence, increase self-esteem, and appreciate the value of acquiring Literacy, especially during this time. HOLY CHILD envisions to find more activities that will help the learners grow and become notable members of our society.

With the help of our students’ parents and teachers, this monthlong celebration will indeed be a success. As the month ends, we acknowledge our learners for their participation

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.13 ISSUE 192 • TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2020

PRRD... FROM2

ig-Pateros Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano from the post last month.

In the wake of a destructive typhoon over a week ago, the President brought up the 2022 elections, saying he would make Vice President Leni

Robredo's presidential run a nightmare should she seek to be his successor.

Robredo said she is not planning to run for President in 2022, although she said it is a possibility, noting that the presidency is a destiny no one can plan for.

balance is not even enough to rebuild Bicol, which was hit hard by Typhoon Rolly,” the Speaker argued, adding that there are enough appropriations in the proposed budget that could help supply the needed calamity funds.

Duterte earlier placed the entire island of Luzon

under a state of calamity, in a bid to fast-track rescue, relief, and rehabilitation efforts after the typhoons.

An inter-agency task force co-headed by the Environment and Public Works and Highways departments was also created to streamline the government’s post-typhoon response.

na nangyari sa (you were there, you know the situation and what happened in) Cebu, Bacolod, when the national government called for your service, nakita namin na talaga namang (we have seen that the) the armed forces is really willed, it is the unit and

the command that we can rely on,” Galvez said.

The AFP’s efforts against Covid-19 continue and will not falter as other units are committed to the ongoing clearing and relief operations in areas devastated by recent typhoons.

(PNA)

approach for dealing with debt problems beyond that, the draft communique said.

World Bank President David Malpass warned the G20 that failing to provide more permanent debt relief to some countries now could lead to increased poverty and a repeat of the disorderly defaults of the 1980s.

The G20 debt relief initiative has helped 46 coun-

tries defer $5.7 billion in debt service payments, but that is far short of the 73 countries that were eligible, and promised savings of around $12 billion. Private sector participation is seen as critical to ensuring broader use of the initiative.

Debt relief for Africa will be an important theme of the Italian presidency of the G20 in 2021.

as an incubator for technology and fintech. At the same time, tech is here to serve the underserved, the underbanked, and the undersheltered. Fintech has created opportunities for people on the spot,” said Maclang.

Plabasan said the central bank paved the way for the country's transition to contactless payment practice, most especially during the pandemic.

BSP data showed there was a surge in the use of internet banking, mobile apps and services, such as Instapay and PesoNet, during the pandemic, as more than 4 million accounts were open even during the lockdown's first 2 months, according to Plabasan.

"We recently crafted a 3-year roadmap which aims to develop an effi-

cient, safe, and secure digital-payment ecosystem.

We aim to shift 50 percent of retail payments to online, and ensure that 70 percent of adult Filipinos will have access to digital accounts," he said.

Sazon estimated that one trillion transactions will be made through GCash by the end of December, noting that young Filipinos are "most aware of their financial stability" during the pandemic.

Ortiz also pointed out the future of money movements.

“Financial transactions, embedded in actual live transactions people do day to day, are the ultimate end game. Whatever you do, whether you buy food, take a trip—we will embed it in financial transactions across the board," said Ortiz.

unblemished record to 14 wins with nine knockouts.

Palicte, on the other hand, needed only two rounds to beat Reymark Taday of Cotabato for his 27th victory in 32 fights.

Canoy connected solid punches that forced Jovab Lucas of Sarangani not to continue the fight after the end of third round. Canoy, 27, now has 16 wins with nine knockouts against four defeats and one draw.

It was also the same story for Casama who also

forced Vergel Deguma of General Santos City not to answer the bell for round two.

Casama, 20, remained undefeated with six wins all by knockout.

The event was presented by Jim Claude Manangquil of the Sanman Boxing Promotion and the only second bubble boxing tourney since the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic hit the country early this year.

(PNA)

HOUSE... FROM2

AFP... FROM3

G20... FROM4

PH... FROM4

5 SANMAN... FROM11

SM... FROM5

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four levels of restaurants, but also its new dining experiences using touch-free, cashless payment services.

Zamboanga based brands like Bay Tal Mal, Turkish Grille Plus, Casa Velyn, South Avenue, Kape Sur, Sophia Jewelry, Oro Italia Fine Jewelry, and more have found their home in SM City Mindpro. The mall also brings great entertainment to Zamboanga City with its four state of the art cinemas.

For customer convenience, SM City Mindpro has six parking levels with 481 car slots, 53 motorcy-

cle slots, 12 for PWD vehicles as well as tourist transport terminals.

SM City Mindpro’s project team includes DSGN Associates, Design Consultant; Jose Siao Ling and Associates, Architect on Record; Gridlines, Construction Management; and Metro Stonerich Corporation, General Contractor.

With the health of its shoppers in mind, SM City Mindpro is on the forefront of safe malling, enforcing high standard hygiene checks and health protocols in the city through advanced, touch-free technol-

ogy that creates a seamless shopping experience for all.

In line with SM Prime Holdings’ commitment on disaster mitigation measures and carbon footprint reduction, the mall is designed to achieve a sustainable future. 6” CHB walls with an Exterior Insulating Finish System and Variable Frequency Drive (VFD) make it a cost-efficient and energy-saving building.

Likewise, its Sewage Treatment Plant has a Treated Water Recycling Tank System that helps in the conservation of fresh water. An Underground

Rainwater Tank, on the other hand, can help mitigate the cause of flooding within the mall’s neighboring areas.

Solid wastes are managed in accordance to local and national standards of segregation, recycling, reusing and sending to the sanitary landfill. This is even elevated to a more inclusive advocacy in SM Cares’ Trash to Cash initiative.

All these are part of SM’s commitment to continue serving and supporting communities around the Philippines. SM PR

fee cherries to dry on the ground, severely affecting quality.

His North Star Upi Coffee, which he formed in 2018, partnered with the cooperative – the farmers provided the labor, and Gepte spent for the materials so they would have “raised beds” where to put the coffee to dry instead of on the ground.

“I’m just glad that the

farmers listened to our lectures and practiced what they learned,” Gepte said.

He said he must be paying double the amount now for the local coffee harvest, and hired 12 women to do the sorting, that tedious process of picking out the defective beans.

A local roastery in South Upi roasts North Star’s coffee. Gepte says he prefers to make use of local resources

and manpower to help the community.

Even in the packaging, Gepte levelled up the game, following the big players’ practice of using foil bags with one-way valves to help preserve quality of the coffee. Two of his children who finished multimedia arts from the College of St. Benilde in Manila designed the label.

As luck would have it,

Gepte met Rich Watanabe, executive director of the Coffee Heritage Project (CHP), an NGO based in Quezon City helping coffee farmers improve their produce and their lives. CHP happened to have among their ranks a former employee of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim in Mindanao (BARMM), Larry Mapolon.

A partnership ensued.

hilot, or sometimes by the pregnant woman herself.

This is a terrible painful method and is dangerous, especially in more advanced pregnancies. The physical pressure is used to induce uterine contractions but these may not be enough to expel the fetus. · Insertion of catheters.

Women have been known to insert hangers, brooms, walis tingting. These often lead to infections. · Dilation and currettage. Usually, this is done with women who had already started the abortion, in which case it is called completion currettage.

There are, however, clandestine clinics that use raspa (as it is called locally) to induce an abortion. · Menstrual regulation.

This involves the use of suction or vacuum aspiration to terminate a very early pregnancy (usually the first few weeks). · Drugs. There are many

Western drugs that people use to attempt to induce an abortion. These include medicines such as quinine, an anti-malarial; methylergometrin, a uterine stimulant and methotrexate, an anti-cancer drug. With some of these drugs, an abortion is actually a side effect. In other cases, the western medicine used may even have the opposite effect on a pregnancy.

Bricanyl (generic name: terbutaline) is perceived as an abortifacient in large doses but in reality, the drug actually delays labor rather than inducing an abortion.

Misoprostol (Cytotec), one of widely-used drugs, is actually a drug used to prevent ulcers but has abortion as a side effect.

Because its use as an abortifacient is illegal, the drug is used on a trial and error basis, which then creates problems.

According to some

studies, 70% of women who use massage or insertion of a catheter and 44% of those who use misoprostol suffer severe complications, compared with only 13% who undergo dilation and curettage or manual vacuum aspiration.

“The risk of complications from an abortion is related to the length of the pregnancy and the abortion method used,” explains The Merck Manual of Medical Information.

“The longer a woman has been pregnant, the greater the risk.”

The manual cites the following complications: “The uterus is perforated by a surgical instrument in 1 of 1,000 abortions.

Sometimes, the intestine or another organ is also injured. Severe bleeding occurs during or immediately after the procedure.

“Some techniques can tear the cervix, especially during the second trimes-

ter of pregnancy. Later, infections or blood clots in the legs may develop.

Bleeding can occur if part of the placenta is left in the uterus.”

But all these could be avoided if and when abortion is done in a hospital.

“Complications are uncommon when an abortion is performed by a trained health care practitioner in a hospital or clinic,” the Merck manual notes.

“Unsafe abortion is a very serious public health issue, a silent scourge,” commented a health officer, who oversees the monitoring of abortion cases and maternal deaths for the health department.

He explained that there were attempts to address unsafe abortion through initiatives like more vigorous family planning but is almost always opposed by the church and anti-abortion groups. (Photos sourced from the net)

Caldwell-Pope decided to stay with the Los Angeles Lakers saying he has signed a new three-year deal.

The 6-foot-5 guard, who joined the Lakers from the Detroit Pistons in 2017, was a key piece in Los An-

geles’ 2020 NBA title run, averaging 10.7 points and making 37.8 percent of his three-point shots.

The 27-year-old guard, who declined his $8.49 million player option, is reportedly getting a $40 million deal.

Rajon Rondo, who a major player in the Lakers championship run, is moving to the Atlanta Hawks.

Backup big man Dwight Howard, meanwhile, has signed with the Philadelphia 76ers.

Avery Bradley, a start-

er for the Lakers early in the regular season but declined to enter the bubble tournament, has moved to the Miami Heat.

LeBron James was pleased with the Lakers move, congratulating Pope with a social media post.

Miami Heat last season. He played in 59 games including six starts.

Portland also formally announced that it had acquired veteran center Enes Kanter from Boston in a three-team trade. It is Kanter's second stint with the Blazers, he was also with the team during its run to the Western Conference finals in the 2018-19 season.

Kanter averaged 8.1 points and 7.4 rebounds last season. Portland sent

forward Mario Hezonja to the Memphis Grizzlies as part of the deal.

The Blazers also acquired forward Robert Covington from the Houston Rockets in exchange for Trevor Ariza, the draft rights to Isaiah Stewart and a conditional future first round pick. The deal was reported before Wednesday's draft, but it was not announced by Portland until Sunday.

Covington, a seven-year veteran who played for

both Minnesota and Houston last season, is expected to start for the Blazers. He had total 115 steals, ranking third in the league, and 93 blocks last season while averaging 12.4 points, 6.6 rebounds and 1.3 assists.

"Robert is an elite defender and consummate professional that will make an immediate impact on both ends of the floor," Olshey said. "His versatility enables him to play multiple positions and his character and professionalism

will allow him to transition seamlessly into our culture."

Among the teams invited to play in the bubble in Florida, the Trail Blazers made it to the NBA playoffs for the seventh straight season but they were knocked out in the first round by the top-seeded Los Angeles Lakers in five games. The Blazers finished the coronavirus-shortened regular season 35-39.

The NBA season is set to open Dec. 22.

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VOL.13 ISSUE 192 • TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2020

Abortion: A silent scourge

By HENRYLITO D. TACIO

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merican couple Bob and Pam married in 1971 and came to the Philippines in 1985 as Christian missionaries. They were serving the Filipinos when Pam contracted amebic dysentery, likely from contaminated food or drink.

Pam fell into a temporary coma and received strong antibiotics to combat the infection. “The drugs resulted in severe placental abruption, in which the placenta detaches from the uterine wall,” an American daily reported. “That condition can deprive the fetus of oxygen and other necessary elements.”

When the doctors discovered that Pam was pregnant, they stopped the drugs but told her the high doses had already caused irreversible damage to her baby. She was advised to have the baby aborted so her life would not be risked.

Pam refused the abortion. While pregnant, she nearly lost the baby four times but still refused to consider abortion. “They thought I should have an abortion to save my life from the beginning all the way through the seventh month,” The Gainesville Sun quoted her as saying.

Pam ultimately spent

the last two months of her pregnancy in bed and eventually gave birth to a healthy baby boy on August 14, 1987 in Manila.

Pam’s youngest son – the fifth child – is no other than Tim Tebow, one of America’s sports heroes. The story was featured in his bestselling Through My Eyes.

Although Pam’s doctors advised her to have an abortion, it is illegal in the Philippines. However, the United Nations recognizes that abortion in the country is permitted only in instances in which the pregnant woman’s life is endangered.

Abortion has been a crime under Philippine law. “Abortion was criminalized through the Penal Code of 1870 under Spanish colonial rule, and the criminal provisions were incorporated into the Revised Penal Code passed in 1930 under U.S. occupation of the Philippines,” reports the Center for Reproductive Rights (CRC).

The 1987 Philippine

Constitution further underlines this when it stated that the State “shall equally protect the life of the mother and the life of the unborn from conception.”

The criminalization of abortion has not prevented abortion, however. Based on a study done in 2012, about 610,000 abortions were executed. As a result, over 100,000 women were hospitalized. But what’s more repulsive is that 3 women die every day due to unsafe abortion complication. “(The criminalization) has made the procedure

unsafe and potentially deadly for the over half a million women each year who try to terminate their pregnancies,” the CRC laments. “In 2008, the Philippines’ criminal abortion ban was estimated to result in the deaths of at least 1,000 women and complications for 90,000 more.”

Some lawyers consider the Philippine law on abortion as “among the most restrictive in the world.”

The reason: “it contains no express provision for any kind of exemption from criminal liability.”

This silence of the law

on any exception has a chilling effect on the health profession and thus imperils women’s lives. “The illegality of abortion with no clear exceptions drives women to self-induce abortion unnecessarily endangering their health and lives,” points out Atty. Clara Rita Padilla, who holds a Juris Doctor degree from the Ateneo de Manila University and founder and executive director of EndGendeRights.

She adds, “If we want health care service providers to provide humane, non-judgmental, compassionate post-abortion care and if we want to reduce maternal mortality and morbidity due to unsafe abortion, then we should rethink the archaic colonial law that restricts access to safe and legal abortion.”

There are actually two types of abortion: therapeutic and selective. In medical parlance, therapeutic abortion means terminating the pregnancy of a woman if it threatens her life, and the fetus is not viable ex utero.

Generally, therapeutic abortion is done in any of these situations: when there is a risk of maternal survival caused by the embryo and when the pregnancy impairs maternal life.

“One situation that I can think of wherein the life of the mother is in danger is ectopic pregnancy,” says Dr. Nelly Quintin-Dela Cruz, a consultant in Obstetrics and Gynecology at Manila Doctors Hospital. “This may endanger the life of the mother especially if it ruptures inside and causes profuse internal bleeding.”

Selective abortion, on

the other hand, is terminating a pregnancy due to the fetus having undesirable characteristics. The reasons for the abortion are due to: fetus being defective, fetus is product of a rape, the parent is not ready to have a child, and cultural reasons (like in societies where having a girl is frowned upon, compared to having a boy).

Studies show twothirds of Filipino women who have undergone abortions attempt to self-induce or seek solutions from those who practice folk medicine or hilot. For those who don’t know the law, women who abort their fetuses are facing a prison sentence of up to six years, while those who provide help or assist face a similar sentence.

Undergoing abortion is sort of a hell. “When she squeezed, it was so painful I wanted to kick her,” recalled Josie, who had an abortion done by a hilot. “I bit the blanket. I wanted to cry but I felt I had to contain myself. The pain was worse than childbirth.”

Dr. Michael L. Tan, author of Abortion: Realities and Responsibilities, says there are many different abortion methods used in the Philippines, to wit: · Plants and plant preparations.

Many of these plants probably do induce contractions of smooth muscles, such as those in the uterus. Sometimes, people think the plants work because their menstruation “returns.” In reality, the menstruation was probably only delayed. · Physical methods.

Massage and abdominal pressure are applied by the

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EDGEDAVAO

VOL.13 ISSUE 192 • TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2020

11

5 Sanman fighters win via TKO

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Calvin Abueva of Phoenix fakes off a falling Ray Ray Parks of TNT. PBA Images

ive Sanman fighters all scored technical knockout victories against respective opponents in “The Restart” boxing promotion at the Sanman Boxing Gym in General Santos City on Saturday night.

Super featherweight Marlon “Nightmare” Tapales of Lanao del Norte led his team’s onslaught with an impressive second round stoppage of Eden Sonsona of General Santos City in the main event.

The 28-year-old Tapales downed Sonsona twice in the first round and three times in the next round, prompting the referee to stop the fight that improved Tapales’ ring record to 34 wins with 17 knockouts against three

defeats.

It was Tapales’ comeback win since his 11th TKO defeat to Ryosuke Iwasa of Japan for the interim International Boxing Federation World super bantamweight title at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, USA on Dec. 7, 2019.

Undefeated Dave “Dobermann” Apolinario of Sarangani, bantamweight Aston “Mighty” Palicte of Bago City, featherweight Michael Casama and minimumweight Joey Canoy of General Santos City also won via technical knockouts.

The 21-year-old Apolinario knocked down Bonjun Loperez of Davao City in the first round before pulling out TKO win in the fifth round to improve his

LEVELAND — Looking to replace Tristan Thompson, the Cavaliers have acquired center JaVale McGee and a future draft pick from the Los Angeles Lakers for forwards Alfonzo McKinnie and Jordan Bell, a person familiar with the deal told The Associated Press on Sunday night.

The Cavs will get a second-round pick in 2026 from the Lakers, said the person who spoke on condition of anonymity because the teams have not announced the swap.

On Saturday, Thompson, who played nine seasons with the Cavs and helped them win a championship in 2016, agreed to

a two-year, free-agent deal with the Boston Celtics.

The 32-year-old McGee spent the past two seasons with Los Angeles after two with Golden State.

The 7-footer averaged 6.6 points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.5 blocks for the NBA champions this past season.

The Lakers needed to move McGee in order to open up salary space after getting Marc Gasol to agree to a two-year contract.

McGee will likely serve as a backup to Cleveland center Andre Drummond, who picked up his $28 million player option last week to stay with the Cavs.

Earlier, Kentavious

Lakers deal McGee to Cavs, sign Marc Gasol

Phoenix inches closer to finals C

B

ehind an impressive performance from Matt Wright, Phoenix took one step closer to its first Philippine Basketball Association finals appearance after beating TNT, 92-89, in Game 4 of their semifinal tie at the Angeles University Foundation Sports and Cultural Center.

Still hounded by an ankle injury he suffered in Game 1, Wright, playing off the bench, dropped 25 points including huge baskets that helped keep the Fuel Masters keep the Tropang Giga at bay.

Wright scored on a

triple with 3:03 left that capped the team’s 8-2 run to put them up, 88-81.

TNT would still fight back, cutting the lead down to one, 90-89, with 40 seconds to play, but Wright scored on a turnaround jumper to put the lead back

Trail Blazers re-sign Melo, officially acquire Kanter

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ORTLAND, Oregon — The Portland Trail Blazers have re-signed 10-time All-Star Carmelo Anthony.

It was one of several anticipated moves that Portland formally announced on Sunday (Monday, Manila time). The Blazers also re-signed forward Rodney Hood, who was injured for much of last season, and signed free-agent forward Derrick Jones Jr. Anthony, a 17-year NBA veteran, averaged 15.4 points, 6.3 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 58 games with the Blazers this season. He signed with Portland last November after being out of the game for a year.

Anthony has 26,446 career points, ranking him 15th on the NBA's career list. Over the span of his career, he has averaged 23.6 points, 6.5 rebounds and 2.9 assists. He was also on four Olympic teams.

Anthony played seven-plus seasons for the Nuggets before being traded in 2011 to the New York Knicks, where he spent six-plus seasons. He also has played one season each with Oklahoma City and Houston. The Rockets traded him to Chicago in January 2019 but the Bulls cut him before he played a game.

Hood, a six-year veteran, declined a $6 million player option with Portland earlier this week, becoming a free agent. He signed a new two-year deal with the Blazers but the terms were not made public.

Hood averaged 11.0 points and 3.4 rebounds in 21 games, all starts, with the Blazers last season before he tore his left Achilles tendon. He did not play with Portland in the bubble in Florida.

"Rodney played a critical role in our run to the Western Conference Finals in 2018-19 and was off to a great start last year prior to his season being cut short due to injury," Neil Olshey, president of basketball operations, said in a statement. "Now fully healthy we expect him to make an immediate impact and are pleased he chose to stay in Portland."

Sunday was the first day that most NBA freeagent contracts could be signed. Free agent talks around the league opened Friday evening, and many of the deals that were struck over the weekend started becoming official Sunday.

Jones, a four-year veteran, averaged 8.5 points and 3.0 rebounds with the

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F5 SANMAN, P9

to three with 22 seconds left.

The Tropang Giga had two chances to force overtime, but RR Pogoy and Jayson Castro missed threepoint attempts in the end.

Wright went 10-for-19 from the field while also tallying three rebounds, three assists, and one steal for the Fuel Masters, who can end the series on Wednesday night.

Calvin Abueva added 24 points, 14 rebounds, six assists, four steals, and one block.

Ray-Ray Parks made 19 points, 13 rebounds, six

assists, and one steal for the Tropang Giga, who need to win Game 4 to stay alive in the series and force the rubber match on Friday night.

Box Scores: Phoenix 92 -- Wright 25, Abueva 24, Perkins 11, Jazul 11, Chua 8, Intal 5, Napoles 3, Rios 3, Mallari 2, Heruela 0, Garcia 0, Marcelo 0, Gamboa 0 TNT 89 -- Parks 19, Enciso 16, Rosario 14, Castro 12, Pogoy 8, Erram 6, Montalbo 6, Reyes 5, Washington 3, Semerad 0, Carey 0 Quarterscores: 23-24, 49-47, 73-69, 92-89 (PNA)

FLAKERS, P9

Ginebra guard Scottie Thompson tries to squeeze past Reynel Hugnatan of Meralco. PBA Images

Ginebra also nears return to PBA finals

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arangay Ginebra moved to within a win from making a return to the Philippine Basketball Association Finals after beating the Meralco Bolts, 91-84, in Game 3 Sunday of their semifinal series at the Angeles University Foundation Sports and Cultural Center in Pampanga.

Ginebra outscored Meralco, 27-12, in the first quarter and kept the double-digit advantage for most of the game.

The Bolts still tried to mount a comeback, but the team could only cut the lead to as low as six points as time ran out for them.

Stanley Pringle put

up 24 points on 10-of-20 shooting, nine rebounds, and six assists for the Barangay, which retook the lead in the best-of-five series and can close out the series on Wednesday night.

Prince Caperal added 15 points, six rebounds, and one block off the bench.

Japeth Aguilar put up a double-double of 13 rebounds and 12 points with four blocks and one steal.

Allein Maliksi fired six three-pointers for 23 points with one assist and one steal for the Bolts, who need to win in Game 4 to keep their title hopes alive.

(PNA)

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EDGEDAVAO

VOL.13 ISSUE 192 • TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2020

AID TO ATHLETES

PSC to release assistance to athletes, coaches hit hard by successive typhoons

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he Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) is preparing the release of financial assistance to members of the national team badly-hit by consecutive typhoons.

The sports agency received reports that 57 athletes and coaches from nine sports were evacuated due to massive flooding brought about by Typhoon Ulysses in Metro Manila and nearby areas.

It coordinated with national sports associations (NSAs) to get to know who has been adversely affected.

PSC chairman William Ramirez assured that the agency is monitoring typhoon-ravaged members of the Philippine national team and is expediting the release the financial assistance.

“It might not be substantial but we will do

our best we can to help them,” Ramirez said in a news release on Sunday.

PSC Executive Director lawyer Guillermo Iroy Jr. said once final report has been submitted by the NSAs, assistance will be sent to the affected athletes.

“We will have this rolled out the soonest.

We are just waiting for the final report from the NSA affairs so we can finalize everything,” Iroy said.

Most of the affected national athletes and coaches are from the Philippine Canoe-Kayak Dragonboat Federation residing near floodways in Rizal. (PR)

PSC Chairman William“Butch”Ramirez assured that the agency is monitoring typhoon-ravaged members of the Philippine national team and is expediting the release the financial assistance. PSC